by Nicole Kraft, communications director, U.S. Trotting Association

Lexington, KY — One year ago, Ron Pierce and Passionate Glide literally waved goodbye to Trond Smedshammer and Queen Serene in the race-off of the Kentucky Filly Futurity, as Passionate Glide romped to victory.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Falls For You, driven by Brian Sears, captured the race-off over the Pierce driven Flash Lightning.

This year Smedshammer was the one figuratively waving in victory, as his Falls For You, driven by Brian Sears, captured the race-off over the Pierce driven Flash Lightning.

The race was truthfully over almost before it began, as Flash Lightning, the second elimination winner and race-off favorite, made a break just after the gate folded and left Sears and Falls For You to perform a virtual walk-over mile in 1:58. Flash Lightning also made a break in the second heat, won by Falls For You. First elimination winner Vulcanize scratched out of the race-off.

Flash Lightning recovered quickly from her initial break, and was just eight lengths in arrears heading into the first turn. After only a few strides, however, she was galloping again and Sears just sat comfortably to fractions of :28.3, :57.2 and 1:28. Flash Lightning ended up an eighth of a mile back in second, though both fillies finished their miles to resounding applause from the gathered crowd.

Sears and Smedshammer won the Kentucky Filly Futurity in 2004 with Housethatruthbuilt, while Pierce had captured the last two editions of the race with Her Culese and Passionate Glide, respectively.

“I said just finish,” said co-owner Ted Gewertz. “Nobody move until she crosses the finish line.”

Falls For You earned the $75,400 check set aside for the race-off winner.

Falls For You forces race-off with second heat win

With favored Flash Lightning on a break just off the gate, the $105,560 second heat of the 43rd Kentucky Futurity was anyone’s to win, and it was Falls For You who stepped up to the challenge to force a race-off with her 1:53.2 effort.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Falls For You forced a race-off with her 1:53.2 effort in the second heat.

Danae was fastest of all off the gate, although she was overtaken by Southwind Serena by the first quarter in :28.1. Vulcanize sat third along the pylons until moving first-over and taking the lead past the half in :56.1.

Vulcanize carried the field past three-quarters in 1:25, but was no match for the late-charging Falls For You, who came second-over and beat Bruschette to the wire by three-quarters of a length.

“She races well from off the pace,” said Trond Smedshammer, who conditions the daughter of Yankee Glide for owners Atlantic Trot, Fair Winds Farm, Ted Gewertz and Willow Pond LLC. “The first-over trip (in the first heat) didn’t work out as well as the second-over trip in the second heat.”

The win was the sixth in 13 starts for Falls For You, a $35,000 purchase out of the 2005 Lexington Selected Sale.

Smedshammer, of course, is no stranger to race-offs, having won the Kentucky Futurity in 2005 with Strong Yankee over Vivid Photo, and finishing second in the Kentucky Filly Futurity last year with Queen Serene behind the Ron Pierce-driven Passionate Glide.

In the 13th race final, Falls For You will leave from the rail and Flash Lightning (ninth in heat two) leaves from post two. Vulcanize (sixth in heat two) had post two, but was scratched from the race-off.

Vulcanize, Flash Lightning win eliminations

Favored Vulcanize tipped wide off the last turn and trotted strongly down the stretch to “draw first blood,” in the words of announcer Sam McKee, and take the first $98,020 elimination of the 43rd Kentucky Filly Futurity in 1:54.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Vulcanize took the first $98,020 elimination of the 43rd Kentucky Filly Futurity in 1:54.

It was the eighth win this year for the Bob McIntosh-trained daughter of Muscles Yankee, who is owned by Lothlorien Equestrian Centre.

Vulcanize, leaving from post three for driver David Miller, sat fourth in the early going behind leader Exotic Destination through the first quarter in :27.1 and the half in :55.2.

Miller, who was driving the filly for the first time — regular driver Ron Pierce chose off to drive Flash Lightning in the second division — went second over past the three-quarters in 1:24.3 and then pulled clear, winning by a length in a lifetime best 1:54 over Caress The Senses and Bruschette. Radiant Lindy (fourth) and Exotic Destination (fifth) also made the final.

Though Vulcanize has been known to be a handful on the track, and often needs outriding help to get to the post, she was on her best behavior today, and McIntosh said she has come a long way as the year has progressed. When asked by McKee if she would be impacted by two heats, McIntosh replied, “We’ll see in about an hour.”

Vulcanize, a daughter of $300,000 winner My Starchip, did not race at 2. She was a $225,000 yearling at the 2005 Standardbred Horse Sale Company’s Harrisburg Sale.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Flash Lightning made a bold first-quarter move and led the rest of the mile, winning the second elimination of the Kentucky Filly Futurity in 1:53.4.

Ron Pierce chose off first elimination winner Vulcanize because of a commitment to second-elim favorite Flash Lightning. It proved a worthy decision as Flash Lightning made a bold first-quarter move and led the rest of the mile, winning the second elimination of the Kentucky Filly Futurity in 1:53.4.

Sent off at odds of 4-5, the daughter of Dream Vacation scored her sixth win in 16 starts for trainer Anthony Mannino and owner Lightning Stable.

Southwind Serene left fastest off the gate and had gotten to the rail before the field headed into the first turn, with Sexpot Hall second and Flash Lightning in third. Pierce, however, sought to control his own destiny after the :29 second first quarter and stormed to the lead. She then led the field through fractions of :57.3 and 1:25.4, and was under a hand ride through the stretch to defeat Southwind Serena and Falls For You. Wishful Me and Danae also made the final.

“Front speed hasn’t been holding up today, but Ronnie was able to rate the fractions,” said Lightning Stable manager Jerry Glantz. “She is a game filly.”

It was Flash Lightning’s third win in five starts at The Red Mile, having set her lifetime mark of 1:52.4 last week in the Bluegrass Stake. She was a $32,000 purchase at the 2005 Lexington Selected Sale.